I have been frustrated by the length of time it takes in the drive-through, and by the prices CVS is charging (It's like a pharmacy charging airport or theater concession stand prices! -- why don't they understand it's a store!?). BUT -- there are some pretty great staff members who work at the CVS Swampscott, and top of my list -- top of anybody's list -- should be TARON. There was an error in my prescription (whether from the doctor or CVS, I don't know). Taron listened carefully. He empathized. He didn't blame anyone else (It was NOT his fault), but instead decided to make it right. He not only fixed the ambiguous instructions on my prescription, but did so for everyone who would ever order it again. And he made sure that the follow-up was ready. When I arrived to pick up my meds, I asked to speak to him, and gave him a serious holler-out. I think SO many people who work behind the counter, whether at CVS or a restaurant or retail, really feel they can't have an impact. But a cheery greeting, a genuine expression of welcome, and the responsibility for making things right and quick and effortless makes a big, lasting difference. The woman who takes my order at McDonald's really does affect my mood for a surprisingly long time -- a bored grunt versus a lively interaction makes a difference. To all those who get it, and particularly again to Taron (and Patrick, who was on duty late!), my lasting thanks. And even though this CVS is never a place (Will it change?) in which I'd buy soda or candy or tissues, it is a place I now feel more confident and comfortable about as a place to get my meds, and get them right. Thank you, Taron -- and to whoever hired and trained him. read more

Patrick ALWAYS delivers a great experience! He makes our pharmacy visits personal and he exemplifies customer service under less than ideal circumstances. Patrick is THE reason I keep coming back to CVS! read more

I had to go here to get meds from the urge care across the street. I waited for a bit to get my meds and then got them within 30 minutes of what was promised. The store itself had a lot of empty shelves but that seems to be a problem everywhere you go these days. I'm glad I had insurance because the meds would have been so expensive otherwise! read more

See all

My cousins and I used to walk here all the time for snacks and supplies. As far as our needs went, they always had what we wanted. Staff has been friendly for as many of our visits as I could recall. Nothing special but serves its purpose so I will come again. read more

The WORST customer service and staff EVER. They have messed up many medications. I would like to give ZERO stars

I wouldn't even give these workers 1 star. The cashier Anahi was rude- she got 3 different managers & each one was more idiotic than the last. They were all so rude & had 0 information so of course their feedback was moronic. I will be changing my pharmacy as well. read more

I have always found the staff at CVS in Paradise Rd, Swampscott, MA are very helpful. The pharmacist and the pharmacy technicians are very friendly. I had an experience when one of my meds is not fully covered by insurance and the Pharmacy tech helped find coupons from the manufacturer to lower the cost of my meds. I'd say that is going well beyond of what is expected. Thank you for a great service! read more

Literally the worst, I've been going here for way too long and I can count on a few fingers how many times I've actually been able to pick up a prescription without an issue. If you call, you are put on hold for endless amounts of time. I was once put on hold for 45 minutes only to be hung up on. I've been trying to get a special approval on a prescription and they even hung up on my insurance company who was trying to fix the problem for me. I'm officially done. Goodbye! read more

If you need a bottle of aspirin, okay fine maybe it is worth coming to this store...but when you are in serious need of a prescription - as I do to help treat pain from cancer and shingles - absolutely avoid this store! I've called a prescription days in advance, only to have them give me the wrong dosage. I've sat in their waiting area for an hour, while in overwhelming pain, after they said "it will only be another 10 minutes". As a customer, you cannot have a positive experience at this store, unless you are a very lucky person...and if you are that lucky, please buy a lottery ticket today. I cannot understand why corporate management does not come down hard on this store - this place is truly terrible beyond words. read more

unpassionate staff. feels a little dirtier than other cvs locations. wouldn't recommend this one

Because you always have whatever random thing I'm looking for, I give you 4 stars.. even though I can NEVER find my way back out of your parking lot!! Oy. read more

Just got off phone with this one. They screwed up a prescription from last month. and now I have to wait 2 weeks. Ins won't cover it till then. Will be switching pharmacies !!!!!! read more

RACIST. Went in today to grab some small things and witnessed one of the female employees scream at an older Asian man to stay six feet away from her, refusing to serve him if he didn't. She apologized to the white people standing around (including myself) and did not treat any of them that way - only the elderly Asian man. I get that this is a stressful time and the pandemic is serious, but this blatant racism was disgusting. Do better. Really really disappointing behavior from a grown woman on the job. Won't be coming back. read more

Extremely bad service & unfriendly employees. Horrible experience every single time. Its bad atmosphere. Everybody i know says the same.

Every single time I go to this pharmacy, my prescriptions are never ready, even after giving them 1-2 hours over their quoted time that they'd be ready for pick up. I waited in the drive through for 20 minutes to find out that they didn't even have one of my prescriptions in stock... Why did they fail to tell me/call me with this info considering I had dropped off the prescription hours earlier that day! Once I was even told that my daughter's medication wasn't ready and that in fact, they didn't have any order for it! I explained that my daughter's pediatrician faxed it over the day before, well, low and behold, it was there, they just didn't see it on their fax! Really!?!?!? I mean come on, I've worked in the medical field for years and we checked our incoming faxes constantly! It's just always a rat race going there but they are better than Walgreens so I am forced to continue with them. I will however try to seek out and better place that is close to home but I am not sure if I'll be able to find one, not too many options in this area. They need a better system, seriously. ***UPDATE: I went to the Stop and Shop pharmacy in Swampscott and it's like therapy for me after years of being tortured by CVS! They are awesome, always quick, and they will even ask you when dropping off a prescription if you want to wait for it and that it will only be a few minutes. I wish I knew about them sooner! read more

Received a call saying my prescription was ready, and went to pick it up. They said it wasn't ready quite yet and the gentleman behind the counter said that he could expedite it and it would be another 10-15 minutes. I, being the impatient person I am, chose to leave and return the next day. About a half-hour after I left, I received another automated call telling me my prescription was ready. I came back the next day and I was told my medication was out of stock but they could provide me with another brand of birth control. I asked if they could locate my medication at another nearby CVS and was told that it was unlikely because birth control is uncommon. Thankfully, CVS on Canal Street was able to help and do so with smiles on their faces. read more

RX never READY on time even when you call it in or online a day before. Just another 15 minutes or so. The traffic pattern is atrocious, and I think this is store needs a remodeling I changed all my Rx to the one near my work in Salisbury, clean excellent staff, etc. read more

They're batting 1000. Every time one of my doctors faxed or called in a prescription, they managed to lose it. They're quick to blame the doctor. This has happened with multiple doctors from multiple practices. The only common point is CVS. I have a hard time believing that CVS is right, and everyone else is wrong. To make matters worse, the pharmacy techs rank number one on the following scales: rudeness, poor customer service and lack of training. Save yourself the hassle. Go to CVS on Canal Street in Salem. They have never lost a prescription for my family - including the dog. If this place weren't so convenient, I'd give it 1 star. read more

THE worst Rx counter ever. Don't waste your time. Get your Rx filled anywhere but here... even if you have to wait an extra day, it'd be worth it not to have to step foot in this building. the store is shoddy and run-down, the pharmacists are rude and could care less. I'd drive 20 miles out of my way to not have to use them. read more

I've been to this store many times and every time I check out the rudest lady behind the register is always negative. She should not be in customer service!! Nor as the last person a customer sees when checking out of the store! They need some real training on how to give customer service with a smile. read more

There seems to be a lot of negativity for this pharmacy. I've never had a problem getting my medications from them (yes, I'm there a lot). They always have it when they say they do, and if it's not in stock, I'm informed right away so I can go elsewhere. However, where I do agree with everyone, is that some of the people behind the counter are some of the rudest you'll ever meet. And they are always, always, short staffed (maybe that's why they're so cranky). To put it simply, I'm not there for their smile, I'm there for my medications - and they deliver that. read more

I wish you could give zero stars because I would. I keep telling myself this is the last time I'll put up with this place and yet I keep coming back because it is so close. They never have my prescriptions ready even when they are called in by my doctor or my son's doctor hours in advance. They lose prescriptions and make you feel like it was your fault. They act like you are bothering them when you go to pick up prescriptions or God forbid you need flavoring so that your toddler will take it. There are never enough people working the registers. I swear this is the last time I will EVER go here!! read more

I honestly don't get the negative reviews. I've been a regular customer (primarily pharmacy) for 3+ years. I consistently receive prompt, friendly and helpful service. I, too, have had to wait in line and have had issues with getting a prescription filled. In most cases, it's been the result of the doctor not following through. When the pharmacy has been backed up and it took longer than anticipated, they owned it and apologized. read more

The pharmacy Operations should be subject to RICO Act review!!! A prescription that was called 2 (TWO) hours ago, not filled yet. This is very common in this store. This is one great racket. They want you to blow your money on stuff. Crooks. Go to Walgreens across the street. read more

Usually I have found staff at the registers are friendly, but there are one or two that go out of their way to be friendly and helpful to customers that they know, and chat with them for awhile, while being abrupt and unhelpful to others. I get being friendly to someone you know, but if your regular customers feel like they're not being provided with basic/minimal customer service and treated differently, that is just inappropriate. Plus the entire time I was at the register, the salesperson was gossiping in a derogatory way about another customer, which was very unprofessional. read more

With the plethora of brand, spanking new Consumer Value Stores in the area, this location is in dire need of a facelift. It's the dirty, dingy CVS you remember from the 80's. That said, the pharmacy is great and where else can you get a Sham Wow, case of diet Pepsi and roll of duct tape to go with your NyQuil? read more

They are conveniently near the stop and shop. +1 star for offering, each time, to link my health records with my shopping purchases. I like that blind consistency and the blank look when I decline. +1 real star for a pharmacist that will help me find things that are 'hard to find'. He seems like a nice guy. read more

Due to laziness I've been using this CVS for about 5 year, but no more! Called in 2 scripts on Sunday; I needed a dr. authorization for one of them. I requested they send the request to my dr. Didn't go to pick them up till Wednesday. They said my dr. didn't send in the refill yet and the other one still isn't filled and I could wait and it would be ready in 10 minutes. Told them I couldn't wait and would get them tomorrow. Went in Thursday. They said my dr still had not sent in the refill yet and the other script isn't ready but I could wait 15 minutes. I left and called my dr's office. They said they sent in the script on Tuesday. My dr's office called CVS; they said my script had been ready since Tuesday! I confront a pharmacist abt this and he couldn't explain it. This has happened way too many times. Time to move on. read more

I have been refilling my prescriptions in this CVS pharmacy only because of its location. The staff is not properly trained and make mistakes on a regular basis. My latest experience was a negative one. I called the pharmacy to refill a prescription and was told that it was not ready and that it would be done within 30 mins. From last experiences, that means going to pick up after several hours and prescription not being ready either. Therefore, I decided to go the following day. 24 hours later my prescription had not been filled in and due to the restrictions on the medicine I'm taking, I had to go back to my prescriber to get some tests and start the process all over again. There is zero customer service which I really don't care for if they were doing their job properly in the first place. I received my flu shot there over a month ago and I keep receiving notifications that my flu shot prescription is ready to be picked up. I called, explained and they told me that was a mistake and that it would be removed. After a month, it still says ready for pick-up. This location needs to be monitored by corporate, management should be changed to a more efficient and customer-focused one. *I use the pharmacy in Target at Salem and have no issues at all. The staff is very pleasant and know what they are doing. read more

The staff here has always been super friendly and helpful. Prices seem to always meet or beat other stores around. Recommend :)

What a disappointment with the pharmacy! I decided to switch to them as my past pharmacy did not have things ready on time and I had to wait but at least they deliver and have low prices. I was told to come back in an hour at CVS when I dropped off my prescription. I came back in two hours and it was still not ready. They said to have a seat. Thirty minutes later and I could not wait any longer and came back in what would be 3 hours...STILL NOT READY. Time feels even worse when your sick. I will be changing back ASAP to my old place. I can not imagine the mismanagement to have it be that bad. There are plenty of staff and most staff are very nice and apologetic BUT THREE HOURS AND STILL NOT READY. I have gone in before and the photo staff has been great. They do have a variety of items but RUN DON"T WALK YOUR PERSCRIPTION SOMEWHERE ELSE. read more

You can't ever get anyone to answer the phone which indicates to me that they do not have enough help or phones. You wait forever at the driveup window; therefore I don't use it. I have contacted Their corporate headquarters. Nothing has changed. POOR POOR customer service. Yes, the parking lot is the worst I have ever been in. It's probably the worst shopping center I have ever been in. read more

Worst pharmacy in the area. Never get my prescriptions right, never take responsibility when they screw up, internal communication is a mess (you communicate for ten minutes with one person to sort something out and without fail that information never makes it way through the system or to other pharmacists---resulting in constant errors with the prescriptions). People are not nice here and I am personally fed up with struggling with them on the phone for over twenty minutes a month just to get a prescription. The communications skills at this location need serious work. The people on the phone will often simply not say anything in response when you tell them the problem. There is just a deer in the headlights "what do you expect me to do about it" kind of vibe. Looking at all the negative reviews of the Swampscott location, it is mindboggling nothing has changed. When this many people complain, maybe the problem is the store. The people there should take these reviews to heart and make significant changes. read more

One person ringing at the pharmacy while 20 people wait in line!! Avoid this place especially if you are in a hurry!!

Just went into CVS for one hour film developing for my daughter's school project only to find the machine was broken! The film employee was helpful, but the store manager was not at all! He basically walked away and offered no help. As a valued CVS customer I am appalled! As a former retail manager I am also appalled. Thumbs down to this CVS tonight! Went over to Walgreen's and they were happy to help! Think that the manager David needs more customer service training! read more

This is perhaps one of the worst CVS pharmacies there is. The pharmacy is particular is awful. Although the pharmacists are friendly, the place is simply understaffed. The lines are always long and, what's worse, they have changed the opening hours so it now doesn't open until 8:00 a.m. I was there today at 8:10 and there was nobody in sight. I would definitely advise going elsewhere - there is a Walgreens and a Stop and Shop right across the street. read more

Honestly, I have held off writing this review for very long time and I have over looked many bad experiences before resorting to this. When my mother mentioned she was considering switching to this pharmacy I warned her and the very next day I had yet another HORRIBLE experience. I give up!! After a terrible car crash my Doctor faxed in a prescription for me on Wed July 2, I tried to pick it up that afternoon but the wait was simply too long and my son had another doctors appt so I waited to be sure it would be ready. I attempted to pick it up Thur July 3 and when i arrived I was told they had nothing on file for me. They told me to call my doctor and inquire. I told the girl at the drive through window that when I call my doctor she will tell me that she faxed it and then I asked the girl what our next step should be. She apologized and said that they had nothing there for me. (shrug) I called my doctor and of course they said they had faxed it over yesterday at 3 pm. My doctors office said they will call it in for me this time. I am unable to wait for this as after this car accident my husband is home alone with a broken femur. So I still dont have the medicine I need to be healthy and able to care for my injured family. CVS did not offer to call my doctors office or to investigate where my RX may disappeared to. Simply put, CVS in Swampscott does not care in the least about the population they are serving. They only care about their bottom line. Over the years I have never received good customer service from this pharmacy. The only phone call I have ever received from this pharmacy is when a prescription is available for a refill. They will not pick up the phone if they attempt to fill a prescription and there is an insurance problem, they will wait for the person to arrive after work, and after business hours and THEN inform the customer that there is a problem. When there is no way to resolve it after 5pm. They will not call a doctors office to inquire about the status of a prescription, they will not call the customer if a prescription isnt in stock, they will wait for the customer to come in and then inform them that they can travel miles and miles out of their way in order to get what they obviously NEED. The prescriptions that are filled take forever, they are NEVER ready when they are supposed to be and there is never more than a casual apology with a shrug. They even forgot to return my drivers license to me and instead of picking up the phone they sent it to their Corporate office who eventually, sent it back to me about 6 weeks later, long after I had replaced my lost license!! This pharmacy is within a mile of my home! But you will get a phone call if your prescription is ready for refill so they can make a buck! I started going here when my kids were babies because of the drive through convenience, waiting 20 minutes in a drive-thru line to be told that your rx isnt ready is no longer convenient when you have sick kids in the car. CVS..i give up! I am switching to Stop and Shop, they are kind, quick and respectful. Something you guys should learn. read more